Packaging-machine.



N. M. LA PORTE. PcKAGlNG MAcHmE.

N. Nl. LA PORTE.

PACKAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.6,1910.

l 169,499, Patented Jan. 2 5, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N. M. LA PORTE.

PACKAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.6, 1910.

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Pmnd Jan.'25,1916.

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N. M. LA PORTE. PACKAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.6. 1910.

Patented Jan. .25, 1916.

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24 i/6365: 96 so i; `ayrnfr parte.

NORBERT M. LA PORTE, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO 'THE CROWN CORK AND SEAL COMPANY OF BALTIMORE CITY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPO- -RATION OF MARYLAND.

PACKAGING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Iiatent.

Application le'd August 6, 1910. Serial No. 575,922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L'NORBERT M. LA PORTE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improve-- ments in Packaging-Machines, fully described and represented in the 'following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to improvements.

A further object of the invention isto produce a packaging machine adapted to fill a plurality of containers fed thereto in rows extending crosswise of the line of feed, and, if desired, to close the same, the construction being adapted to present rows of containers in separated groups, whereby the machine may be efectivelyemployed in connection with containers arranged 'in-receptacles, such, for instance, as shipping cases, each case with its containers being placed in and automaticallyT operated upon by the machine. p i

A further object of the invention is toV produce a packaging machine of such .a character that the containers may have the level of the material therein automatically determined.

A further' object of the invention is to producea packaging machine more especially adapted which are liable to foamduring packaging because of trapped air or gas, themachine being so constructed--as to permit'the vsub-v sidence ofthe foam before the packaging is completed.

The. invention also extends tocertain details' of construction not necessary1 to particularly specify which will be hereinafter fullv pointed out. Y' l `With these and other objects not specifically referred to in view, the invention conv vmechanisms being broken away.

a detail sectional view, on the lin-e 6-6 of to the packaging of liquids.

sists in certain constructions, and in certain parts, improvements and combinations as will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically pointed out.

Referring tothe accompanying drawings, which illustrate one .embodiment of the invention,-Figure 1 illustrates in side ele- Yvation, partly in section, a machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the construction illustrated in Figjl. Fig. 3 is a section on the line. 3--3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view, certain parts being broken away, of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1, showing the feed mechanism employed in the machine illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 5A is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, illustrating more particularly the construction of the feed mechanism, the filling and capping Fig. 6 is Fig. 4, illustrating the construction of the endless oonveyer employed in the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a sectional diagrammatic View illustrating moreparticu` larly the operation of the filling and level determining mechanism, the parts being shown in inoperative position. 'Fig 8 is a diagrammatic sectional View generally similar to Fig. 7, illustrating'the operation of the filling mechanism, the parts being shown in operative position. Fig. 9 is a diagram- 'matic sectional view illustrating the operation of the level determining-,mechanism Fig. 10 is a sectional view of one of the capping devices of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is and ratchet feed which may be employed. Fig. 12 is a. detail view of a brake mechanism which may be employed in connection with the feed mechanism. y

Machines embodying the invention will usually include a feeding mechanism constructed to advance the containers to be filled, the containers being arranged in rowsacross the line of'l feed, and, in the best constructions embodying the invention, the containers will be jadvanced in separate groups. Y

While the 'construction of the feeding mechanism may be varied widely, in the particular construction illustrated, two drums or cylinders 2. 3 are'provided, t`he drum 2 being mounted on a shaft 4 suitably. supported in the side frames 1,l and the Patented Jan. 25j', 1916.-.;

a detail view of a pawl drum 3 on a shaft ln the construction illustrated, this shaft 5 is mounted in sliding boXes 6, these boxes being held in their adjusted position b y means-of set-screws 7, as.

-spaced from each other. 'hile the construction may be varied in this respect, in the particular construction illustrated, the platforms 10 are made up of a series of blocks 11 provided with grooves which enable them to be slid into U-shaped crosspieces 12 connected by rivets'lf to the belts 8, the grooves 9 affording space for the rivet heads to pass around the carrier. By making the platform of separate blocks in the manner shown, they flex readily as they pass around the drums, thereby conducingto the easy operation of the carrier.

The machine illust-rated is particularly designed for the packaging of liquids, such, for instance, as milk. Milk, as is wellknown, is usually .packaged in bottles, the bottles being shipped in cases. A form of case quite generally employed is that illus trated in the drawings see Fig. 5) in which the sidesv areformed of wooden boards ll and the bottom is formed by wires 15, a separate receptacle for each bottle being obtained by the use of intersecting wires 16. The machine'illustrated is particularly adapted for the packaging of milk bottles, indicated at 17, while the bottles are in place in suchI cases. It will be observed that the cases referred to have apertured bottoms and are slightly deeper than the vertical height of the bottles. When the machine is to be employed in connection with cases having apertured bottoms, the platforms will, in the best constructions, be so constructed as to afford a firm support for the bottles during the operations to which they are subjected in the machine, and when the cases are, like those illustrated, slightly deeper than the height of the bottles, the construction provided will be such as to raise the bottles above the top of the cases.

While the platformsl may be variously constructed to effect the results referred to, in the particular. construction shown, each platform is slightly less in area than the interior of the case compose it are. which receive the bottom Wires, so that when -11) having a series of teeth 20 andthe blockswhich provided with grooves 18 the case containing the bottles is placed upon the platform, the bottom wires will be received in the grooves and the bottles firmly 'supported by the blocks.'

While the platforms' referred to may be variously arranged on the carrier, when this form of feeding mechanism is employed, in the best constructions the platforms will be spaced, as indicated at 19 see Fig. 6) and the length of these spaces will bear a certain definite relation to the relation of the mechanisms to the operation of which the containers are to be subjected.

The mechanism for operating the endless carrier, when this type of feeding mechan'ism is employed, may be varied within wide limits. In the particular construction shown the shaft 4f of the drum 2 is provided at each end with ratchet wheels (see Figs. 1, 2 and having overhanging ends 21, and other teeth, as 22, one of these teeth 22 being .located between each series of the teeth 20. The teeth referred to are engaged by a pawl .23 pivoted o'n pawl carrying arms 24 loosely mounted on the shaft 4. These pawl carrying arms are operated by a turnbuckle connection 25 from levers 26 mounted on a shaft supported from 20, while its stroke is equal to two of the teeth, it is kept from dropping in behind the second tooth by the .overhang 21, so that the pawl has a lost motion when operating on the teeth 20 equal to the length of one tooth.

The teeth 22, however, have no such over? hang, and, therefore, the pawl, when operating on these teeth, gives theratchet wheel a movement of arc equal to twice the moyement of arc which it receives when the pawl is operating in connection withthe 'teeth 20. The reason for this construction will be adverted to hereafter.l y

In the bestconstructions embodying the invention, and. particularly where feeding mechanism of the type illustrated is employed, the mechanism will include suitable brake 'mechanism to prevent overthrow of the feed. While the brake mechanism employed may be of any suitable type, in the construction shown there are employed 4two brake shoes 33Jwhich operate on the periphery of the vdrum 2 (see Figs. l, 5 and l2) driving shaftof the ma.-

of the teeth 20. When, A however, the pawl is operating on the teeth these brake shoes being pivoted on studs 34,

the shoes being backed up by springs 35, as is usual in such constructions. The studs 34 which the lever 2G before "referred to is 'mounted lith the construction described,

as the lever 2G completes its forward movement. it rocks the shaft 3S and throws the Aplished vmuch more rapidly brake shoes into braking contact with the drum 2.

It has been heretofore stated that the platforms on which the cases are supported are slightly less in area than the interior of the cases. To provide for variations in cases due to variations in original construction or` to warping or other causes. each platform may be provided (see Figs. 4 and 6) with a hook plate 39 which engages the forward side of the case when the same is in position K on the platform.

This construction n-ot only provides for the variations referred to but also enables the travel of the endless belt to be slightly' shortened, because the length of the platform may than the length of the case to permit the platform to bend and the blocks composing it to open somewhat before the case is removed from the platform.

Machines embodying the invention in its entirety will include a chamber in which the material to be packaged is contained. Yhile-the construction and location of this chamber may be varied. n the particular construction illustrated it consists of a metal receptacle 40 supported on standards 41 secured to the side frames of the machine. Tn the construction shown. this chamber is provided with an inlet pipe 42 controlled by a valve 42. Tn the best constructions embodying the invention this valve 42 will be a three-way valve and'will also control a steam pipe 4Q (see Fig. 3). The chamber may also have a draw-off pipe 43 similarly valved, toenable any surplus to be withdra wn from the chamber.

The filling mechanism employed in nia-- chines for carrying the invention into effect may be widely varied. It'has been found in practice that in filling containers with certain kinds of material the filling ofthe first part of the container can be accomthan the last part of the container. Thus. in filling containers with a liquid. and p articularly with a liquid which tends to foam. it has been found that the time required to introduce the last quarter of the contents is about equal to the time required for introducing the first three quarters. In machines embodying the invention in its best form. therefore, the means for supplying the material to be packaged should include a primary filling mechanismby which a considerable proportion of the contents i's'mtrodu'ced into the container be made sufficiently less and a secondary filling mechanism for introducing the 'remainder of the contents, the containers or receptacles being successively presented to these mechanisms. This enables the mechanism to operate rapidly, as the secondary filling of one receptacle can be proceeded with as the primary filling of the next receptacle is taking place. Vhere, as in the particular machine illustrated. a plurality of containers is to be simultaneously filled, the chamber which contains the material to be packaged, and which may be closed by al cover, as 4.4, may advantageously have in connection therewith a row of filling tubes whichA may constitute the primary filling mechanism. `The construction of the tubes employed in the machine illustratedis well shown in Figs. T and S.

As shown, each filling tube 45 passes through a stuffing box 46, and has at its lower end a nipple 47 adapted to enter the mouth of the container to be filled. In the best .constructions embodying the invention the filling tubes will be mounted to receive vertical movements of variable lengths, so that they may be effective with containers of varying heights, and each tube will also be provided with means for effecting a seal between the tubeand the niouth of the container.

'hile the construction by which the tube is given the movements referred to and by which the seal is effected, may be varied. in the particular construction illustrated, each filling tube is provided' with a shoulder 48 100 on the under side of which is located a sealing gasket 49. Resting upon this shoulder is a spring 50 which bears against a collar 51 formed on a tube 52 which is a part of the. stufling box construction. This tube 52 is 105 threaded into the coperating part ofthe stufling box. as is usual, and the construction is such that the spring 50 is under an original compression. A suitable valve will be provided for each filling tube. 'hile the 110 construction and arrangement of these valves may be' varied, in the particular construct-ion illustrated, each valve, marked is provided with a venting chamber 54 having perforations 55 through its walls. This 115 chamber communicates with a hollow stem 56 by which the valvel is operated. In the best constructions embodying the invention, and as shown, the valve operating means will be of such a character that the move- 120 ment of the filling tube produced by the spring is controlled or at least permitted by the valve and it-s operating means. and thev movement of the filling tube in opposition to the spring is produced by the valve 125 and its operating means. In the particular construction illustrated. each of the valve stems 56 passes loosely through and is connected by nuts 57 with cross bars 5S in turn connected to side bars 59, the parts forming v an operating frame. In the particular construction illustrated, this operating frame is given a vertical reciprocating movement. l/Vhile the means by which this is accomplished may be varied, as shown, the side bars 59 have connected thereto operating rods 60 which work through tubes 6l screwed into or votherwise secured to the bottom of the chamber 40. These operating rods are, in the particular construction illustrated secured to a bar 62 connected to a vertically movable rod 63, a brace 64 being employed, if desired, to stifi'en the construction. There may be one of these rods 63 on each side of the machine and they may work Y through guides 65, 66 secured to the 'machine frame. ln the particular construction illustrated, furthermore, these operating rods 63 .are operated from the cams containing the grooves 28., there being one of these cams on each side of the machlne. As shown. the

rods 63 are provided with cam rolls 67 which cone-shape in outline,

workin the cam grooves 28. The valves 53, in the particular construction shown, work against the mouths of the nipples 47.

In the construction as described, it will be understood,-and assuming that'bottles or other containers are in position to be filled beneath the filling tubes,-as the frame is moved down (it being' remembered that the springs 50 are underv an original 'com'- pression) the filling tubes will follow the valves, which move down by gravity, until the sealing disks 49 strike lthe mouths of the containers and effect a seal thereagainst. A further downward movement of the frame permits the valves to move awa'y from the nipples 47 and the material in the tank is allowed to flow out of the tubes into the containers, the action of ticular machine shown in Fig. 8. l

While the venting construction may be varied, that shown is particularly advantageous, because it hasibeen found in prac. tice that when filling a container like a bot.. tle the air therein tends to'be forced upward in a column which is substantially central to the container. The construction shown the parts. in the parillustrated, being well- --enables the air to readily esca-pe without being compelled to cross the circular stream of the entering liquid.

It will be noted that the valves 53 are approXimately'eone-shaped, that is to say, the the seal against the mouth of the nipple 47 has a general andthe part below the venting chamber has, also a 'general conical form. This construction is. particularly advantageous in filling a narrow mouth container such as a bottle. The lower coneshaped part of the valve will act, in case a container is slightly out. of center, to position the same, and shaped'part will act `as a spreader to within wide limits.

'under original compression.

the upper cone' throw the liquid out against the sides of the container.

The character of the secondary filling mechanism employed, when the supplying mechanism includes both primary and secondary filling mechanisms, may be varied lt is desirable, in some packaging machines that the level. of the material in each container be accurately determined. Machines, therefore, which embody the invention in what is regarded as its best form will include means for thus accurately determining the level of the material in each container, and the secondary filling mechanism may well be constructed so that in addition tocompleting the filling of the container, it will also effect this level determining function. lVhile the particular construction of the complished may be varied, in the particular construction shown, the secondary filling mechanism includes tubes 68. lVhen, as in the machine illustrated, a plurality of primary filling devices are employed. a plurality of secondary lfilling devices similarlyv arranged should be employed. ln the p'articular machine illustrated, the primary filling mechanism comprises a set of three filling devices adapted to fill three containers. The secondary filling mechanism, therefore, also includes three filling devices, but for reasons which will hereinafter appear', the particular secondary filling mechanism illustrated also includes two additional sets of filling devices. As these secondary filling devices ar'e duplicates, only' one need be described. In each of them the tube 68 passes through a stuffing box 69 and is provided near its lower end with a shoulder 7() on which is secured a sealing disk 71. A nipple'72 is screwed into thedisk 70. A sleeve 73 is provided, this sleeve forming a part of the stuffing box construction, the sleeve A being provided with a collar 74. A spring 75 is located between the disks 70 and the shoulders 74, this spring being maintained The mouth 'of devices by which this is ac-` the nipple 72 is closed by a valve T6 correy Asponding generally in outline to the valve before referredto, and havingA in general the same function. The valve 7G is provided with an operating rod 77 connected by-nuts 78 with the operating frame comprising the bars 58, 59.

ln the operation of the particular machine primary filling mechanism a considerable proportion of their contents, p aSs'to the secondary filling mechanism and are presented to the tubes 68 of that mechanism. As the operating frame descends, the tubes 68 are moved downward by their springs 75 and if a container is properly located beneath one of these tubes, the nipple 72 enters the mouth illustrated, the containers of a row after having received from the Vmay be overilled License of the container and the disk 71 which surrounds the nipple forms an hermetic seal with the mouth of the container, the action being substantially the same as that described in connection with the primary ing devices. ment of the frame permits the valve 7 6 to move away from the mouth of the nipple 7 2. The operation which takes place following the opening of the mouth of the nipple by the movement of the valve will depend upon the condition of the container into which the nipple has been inserted. Referring to the second row of containers, that is, the row neXt the row which is under theprimary filling tubes, if the primary filling mechanism has operated properly, tainers will'be about three-quarters full. ln that case, as the mouth V72 of the tube 68 is opened, the material will iiow into the container and will rise therein until it reaches the mouth of the nipple at which point the trapped air in the space between'the nipple and the mouth of the container will, if a hermetic joint has been formed between the mouth of the container and the gasket 71, prevent any further discharge into the container. YYAs the amount of the contents of the container be readily determined, when this valve rises and closes the mouth ofthe nipple 72, and the nipple and tube 68 are withdrawn from the container, the contents should be at the level desired. If, for any reason, however, the primary lling tubes have not acted properly, as, for instance, chip in the lip of a container a tight joint has not been established between a 'gasket 49 and the mouth'of a'container, the container When such an overfilled container passes to the secondary vfilling' mechanism, as the nipple 72 and the valve 76 descend into the container they will displace the excess of liquid therein which exfill-y A further downward move#- this row of con-` displaced by the valve 76 can if because of a cess will run over the mouth of the receptacle. lf a tight joint be established by the gasket 71 with the mouth 'of such container, as the valve '76 opens no liquid 4will ow from the tube 68 into said container, but the valve will open 'and close idly..V ln either case, whether material is introduced into the containers 'bythe secondary filling tubes or displaced therefrom by the tubes, will be determined by these tubes.

It will be understood that both the springs 50 and -7 5 are under such compression that in case no container is under the filling and. regulating devices, follow Y the downward movement of the' the tubes 45 and 68 will valves, ,so that the valves will not be opened.

There is, the containersfail to be presented to either the lling or regulating devices.

It will be noted that in the machine shown the group of-tilling devices are located'at the level n t ing therefore, no loss of fluid in case F with liquids air or gas.

Vsubsides with comparative rapidity.

-cessively in avconsiderable distance from the group of.

level determining devices. This is also 1mportant in filling containers, such as bottles, which foam because of trapped In handling such liquids, if the the foam ln the particular machine shown, the space between the filling tubes 45 and the irst set of regulating tubes 68 is so calculated that the containers in passing from the filling devices to the regulating devices will be exposed to the air a suihcient length of time to allow the foam to subside.

It `has been pointed out that, in the particular machine shown, there are three crosswise rows of the regulating devices. This machine is designed to fill milk bottles arranged in cases, each case containing twelve bottles arranged in four rows, each row having three bottles, the cases being placed sucthe machine. The feeding mechanism is so designed that the stroke of the pawl, when coperating with a long tooth 22, will bring the first row of bottles in each case beneath the filling' devices. The case is now advanced by a step by step movement equal to the distance between the bottles in the case by the' pawl 23 cooperating with the teeth 20, after which the pawl again copcontents are exposed to the air,

crates with another of the teeth 22 and ad vthe regulating devices, which, as has been pointed out, are duplicates of the first set, are provided. As the feed continues the 'iilst two rows of bottles in the case will be successively presented to all three of the sets of regulating devices.

ever, the second row of regulating devices may, as pointed out, have some effect in determining the level of the vcontents ofthe bottles which are presented to it, as a rule,

" the third row will o pen and close without in any way 'alfecting the level of the liquid' in the bottles. After the first two rows of bottles have been presented to the regulatdevices, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, at which time the first two `rows of bottles have' been entered by the nipples of all the regulatingdevices. The parts are now in the position, however, when the long movement of the feeding-mechanism takes place. j This causes the case to be especially if the machine' While, how-l advanced to aposition where the last row', a

'of' containers in the case is brought under the last row .of regulating devices. 'In other words, in the operation of the ffeed, the first two rows oi' bottles will be presented to all the rows of regulating devices, although the last row, as a rule, has no effect on the level of the liquid in these bottles, the next, or third row of bottles, will be presented to the iirst and .second rows of regulating devices, and the fourth row oi bottles to the first and third rows of regulating devices. This construction insures that all the bottles in each case will be presented to at least two of the regulating devices.

In machines embodying vthe invention in its best form, the containers, after being filled, will be sealed or stoppered while still in thev machine. In machines which embody the invention in its best form, the closing mechanism will not only operate to close a ccntaineror containers while another container or containers is being operated upon by the filling mechanism, but the means by which the filling and closing operations are effected will be common to both mechanisms. The containers, however, which are operated upon may vary in height or capac' ity, and as the stroke of the operating means, whatever be its construction, should'be such as to bring the filling and closing mechanisms into operation, either these mechanisms or the operating means should be such as to eiect the result-s desired. irrespective of variations in the containers. For' instance, containers such as bottles intended to be of the same size will vary somewhat in height,4 and containers holding different amounts may vary considerably in height. lThe construction should be such, therefore, that the filling and closing will, be eiccted `notwithstanding these variations.

When the containers are to'- be closed in the machine, the closing mechanism may be of any desired type. |lfhe means for presenting the containers to said closing means may also be of any suitable type. In the A particular machine illustrated, however, the

means for presenting 'the containers to the closing mechanism and supporting them is the feeding mechanism which has been heretofore described, the variable movement of the mechanism being utilized to properly present the containers in the cases to the closing means. In the particular machine shown, the closing is effected by applying to the containers the well-known type of crown cork indicated at (see Fig. 10). 1While the construction -may be variedv in this respect, these crown corks are applied by means of movable capping heads 81 which are intermittently reciprocated t0- ward and away from the containers. l As shown, these capping heads are-mounted on a cross-head 82 moving in guides 83 secured to the front ofthe chamber 40. When reciprocating stoppering devices are employed, the actuation thereof may beei'ected in any `the several heads referred to.

cast on the cross head 82. This insures that the movement of the capping dies occurs in synchronism with that of the filling and level determining mechanisms.

If desired the crowns may be automatically fed to the capping heads. In order to effect this, in the construction shown, the cross-head 82 is provided .with a bracket 86 which supports a crown feeding and selecting hopper 87 of a construction well-known in the art. VThis hopper communicates by means of a channel 88 and branches 89 with In order to balance the movements of the various mechanisms operated by the rod 63, a counterweight 90" may' be employed mounted on levers 91 resting on a bar 92 mounted in theframe and connected to the rod 63.

The particular construction of the cappingmechanism may, as has been indicated, be considerably varied. It isdesirable, however, that this mechanism be of such a character as-to take care of, ,without breaking, bottles of varying heights, and to effect this, means should be provided for effecting the capping with a yielding pressure.' lVhile this may be accomplished in various ways,- in the construction shown, each of the heads 81 is provided with a bending die 93 seated on a throat ring 94,=this ring being held in position by a beveled guide nut 95 secured to the lower' end of the capping head, the

beveled opening in -this nut facilitating the entrance of the bottle heads ther-cinto. vrThe throat ring is shouldered, 'as indicated at 96, to support the crowns, the crowns bein delivered to these rings by the branch chutes 89 before referred to. As shown, the bending dies are yieldingly held against the pressure developed during the crowning operation. While the means for thus yieldingly holding the bending dies in place may be varied, as shown, this is effected by a spring 96 resting against a washer 97 above the.

bending die and against a threaded washer 98 screwed into the upper end'of the capping head threaded to receive it. lThis spring is normally under an original compression which is sufficient to effect the inward bend- -ing of the flange of the crowns for the shortest Abottles which maybe presented thereto, and, at the same time, the cliaracter of the spring is such that the longest bottles presented theret0-will not place it under suieient tension tdbreak the bottles. By

los

this construction notonly can bottles of varying heights which are .presented to the same. bending die be capped, but the mechanism will effectively cap containers. of

varyin` 'heights in the same crosswise row which 1s particularly important .where the machines are, as in the machineA illustrated, designed to cap aA plurality of bottles arranged in such rows.

The caps are held in position prior to the bending operation by a plunger 99 having a head 100 thereon, this plunger being slotted. as indicated at 101, the slot engaging a cross-pin 102 to limit the downward movement 'of the plunger, andthe plunger being backed up by a light spring 103. The dies are also provided with a headed plunger 10ibacked up by a spring 105, the upper end of this plunger Working in an opening 106 in a guide nut 107 which closes the upper end of the head. The function of this plunger is to insure that the capped bottles be delivered after capping from the bending dies. rIhe operation of the mechanism will be understood from the foregoing description.y

It Will bel seen that the machine is capacitated to fill, accurately determine the level, and cap bottles or other similar containers, and that this can be carried on continuously and rapidly.

The construction is also such that the apparatus can be rapidly and effectively cleaned, which is of particular importance where liquids such as milk are to be packaged. By turning the tliree-way cock 12a so as to connect with the steam pipe 42h the. chamber may be filled with steam whichV may be allowed to escape through the filling tubes and the level determining tubes, so

.that all the parts of the mechanism with which the ymilk comes in contact can be. thoroughly scalded out.

Changes and variations may be made in the constiuction by which the invention claimed is carried into eect.l r1`he claimed invention, therefore, is not to be limited to the particular construction hereinbefore described 'and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Y

What is claimed is 1. A machine for packaging. liquids, including, in combination, a primary lling apparatus arranged to deliver ,to a container a primary filling charge, a secondary filling mechanism arranged to remove a part of the primary 2. A packaging machine including in com-. bination a filling mechanism, an endless' carrier provided iwith a plurality of positioning platforms each adapted to support a case holding a plurality of containers, each platform being less in size than the interior Yof the case placed thereon and being made up of a plurality of flexibly connected blocks, and means for giving the carrier a step-by-V.

charge or to supply a-supple-I mental charge thereto. whereby each constep advancing movement to present the cbntainers in the cases to the filling mechanism.

3. A packaging machine including in combination a filling mechanism. an endless carrier provided with a plurality of' positioning platforms each adapted to support a case holding a plurality of containers,each platform heilig lef-1s in size than the interior of the case placed thereon and being made up of a plurality of flexibly connected grooved blocks. and means for giving the carrier a step-by-step advancing movement to present the containers in the cases to the filling mechanism.

l. A packaging machine including in combination a filling mechanism. an endless carrier provided with a plurality of positioning platforms each adapted to support a` case holding a plurality of containers, cach platform being less in size than the interior of the case and being made up of a plurality of flexibly connected grooved removable blocks. and means for giving the carrier a step-b v-step advancing movement to present the containers in the cases to the filling mechanism.

A packaging machine including in combination an endless lcarrier provided with a plurality 'of' positioning platforms each adapted to supporta case holding a plurality of containers. each platform being less in size than the interior of the case and consisting. of a plurality of flexibly connected blocks. means for giving the carrier a stepby-step variable advancing movement to l compensate for the spaces between the cases,

vsupport a case holding a plurality of containers arranged in rows and being less in size than tlieinterior of the case, a row of filling devices extending crosswise of the line of feed, a row of stoppering devices extending cro'sswise of the line of feed, and means for operating `the platforms to successively present the containers to the fil ling and stopper-ing devices.

7. A packaging machine including in combination a feeding mechanism vcomprising a plurality of traveling lplatforms spaced apart.. each platform being. made up of a plurality of 'flexibly connected blocks and being adapted to support-a case holding a plurality of containers arranged in rows and being less in size than the interior of the case, a row of filling devices extending crosswise of the line of feed, a row of stoppering devices extending crosswise of the line of feed, and means for giving'the platforms a variable step-by-step advancing movement to successively present the containers to the filling and stoppering devices and to compensate for the spaces between cases.

8. A liquid packaging machine including in combination means for introducing liquid into a liquid container', regulating means container,

for determining Vthe level to which the liquid rises in they container', and means for successively presenting the container to the introducing and regulating means.

, 9. A liquid packaging machine including 1 to which/the contents may rise therein, operating devices therefor, and means for successively presenting the container to said means.

11. A liquid packaging machine including in combination a source of liquid supply, a filling tube, a-valve, a regulating tube -for determining the level ofthe liquid in the containerI connected with the source of supply and having an orifice below the mouth of the container, means for forming an hermetic seal between the regulating tube and the mouth of the container, a valve for closing the orifice in the regulating tub,eand means operating the valves, said operating means being timed to cause the container to be partly filledby the filling tube, the filling being completed and the level determined l y the regulating tube.

12. A liquid packaging machine including in combination a sourceof liquid supply, a filling tube, a valve, a regulating tube for determining the level of' the liquid in the container connected with the source of' supply and having an orifice below the mouth of the container, means for forming an hermetic seal between the regulating tube and the mouth of the container, a valve for closing the orifice in the regulating tube, means foroperating the valves, said operating means being timed to cause the container to be partly filled by the first tube, the filling being completed and. the level determined by the regulating tube, andmeans Afor successively presenting' thev container to said tubes.

13. A liquid packaging machine including in combination means for introducing liquid into a container, a regulating mechanism for ldetermining the level of the liquid in the container, said mechanism including a source of liquid supply, a tube connected therewith and arranged to enter the mouth of the container, said tube having 'an orifice therewith and arranged to enter the mouthv of the container, said tube having an orifice Which is below the mouth of the container when the tube is in operative position and affording the sole ingress and egress passage to and from the container, a valve for opening and closing said orifice, and means orforming an hermetic seal between the tube and the container mouth, and means for successively presenting. the container to the liquid introducing means and the regulat-ing mechanism.

15. A liquid packaging machine including in combination a source of liquid supply, a filling tube in connection therewith, a valve for opening and closing the tube, a regulating tube also in communication with the source of liquid supply and arranged to eX- tend into the mouth of the container, said tube having an orifice which Ais below the mouth of the Icontainer when the tube is in operative position and affording the sole ingress and egress passage to and from the container, a valve for opening and closing said orifice, means for forming an hermetic seal between the regulating tube and the Ycontainer mouth, and means for operating the valves, said. means being timed so that the supply from thefilling tube is cut offv before the container is filled.

16. A liquid packaging machine including in combination a source of" liquid sup` ply, a filling tube in connection therewith, a valve for' opening and closing the tube, a. regulating tube also in communication with the source of liquid supply and arranged to extend into the mouth' of the container, said tube having yan orifice which is below the mouth of the container when the tube is`in operative position and affording the sole ingress and egress passage to and from the container, a valve for opening and closing said orifice, means for forming an hermetic seal between the regulating tube and' the bottle mouth, means for operating thevvalves, said means being timed so that the supplyfrom the filling tube is cut off before the container is filled, and means for successively presenting a container to the filling and regulating tubes.

17. A liquid packaging machine including in combination a source of liquid sup- 139* a vented valve for cona regulating tube for deof the l1qu1d 1n the conplv. a filling tube, trolling said tube, termining the level taiucr, the source of liquid supply and being arranged to extend into the mouth of the container and having an orifice which is below the. mouth of the container when the tube is in operative position, said orifice affording the sole ingress and egress passage to and from the container, a valve for controlling said orifice, means for forming an hermetic seal between the regulating tube and the container mouth, means for operating the valves, said means being timed so that the suppl \1 from the filling tube is cut off before. the container is filled, and means for successively presenting the container to said filling and regulating tubes.

1S. A liquid packaging machine including in combination means for forwarding the containers in spaced groups, a filling mechanism, a plurality of regulating devices for determining thel level of the liquid in the containers, said devices being arranged to operate successively on the containers of a group, and means for operating the forwarding devices to present all the containers of each group to the filling mechanism and a part of the containers of each group to some of the regulating devices and the remainder of the containers of each group to all the regulating devices.

19. A liquid packaging machine including in combination means for forwarding the said tube also communicating with.

containers in spaced groups, a filling mechanism, a plurality of regulating devices for determining the level of. the liquid in the containers, said devices being arranged to operate.successively on the containers of a group, means for operating the forwarding devices to present all the containers of each group to the filling mechanism and a partV of the containers of each group to some of the. regulating devices and the remainder of the containers of each group to all the regulating devices, a stoppering mechanism to which the. forwarding means presents the containers, and means for simultaneously operating the filling mechanism, thea-eguilating devices and stoppering mechanism.

20.4 liquid packaging machine including in combination a feeding mechanism, a lling mechanism. a regulating mechanism for determining the level to which the liquid ma v rise in the container filled by the filling mechanism, said filling and regulating mechanisms being spaced from each other to allow for a substantial subsidence of the foam as the feeding mechanism advances the container from the filling mechanism to the regulating mechanism.

ln testimony whereof, have hereunto set my hand, in the presence ot' tvvo subscribing witnesses.

NORBERT M. LA PORTE.

lVitnesses HARVEY CoALE, H. M. LAITHE. 

